Hicks, Joy - Hicks Kennel/Happy Hollow

Approximately 80 dogs and puppies on the property at the time of the investigation.

Housing Type #1: The first building used to house dogs on the property was a large building with 5 fenced-in runs on one side. Each run was approximately 6 feet deep, 6 feet tall and 2 feet wide. The first cage housed two small white dogs and the second housed three. The third run housed one larger white dog, and the fourth and fifth cages each housed a Shiba Inu.

Each outdoor run was connected to the inside of the building via a small dog door at the rear. All of the cages contained excess fecal matter throughout the runs, forcing the dogs to walk, eat, and drink among their own excrement (3.11(a)-Cleaning of primary enclosures).

Housing Type #2: The second type of structure used to house dogs was a long stretch of 10 to 15 outdoor pens that ran along one edge of the property. These pens were each approximately 4 feet wide, 6 feet deep and 6 feet tall. Each pen was equipped with one small “igloo-style” doghouse for shelter from the elements despite the fact that multiple dogs were housed in each pen. One pen housed two adult Shiba Inus, but only one doghouse which was not sufficient for dogs of that size to share comfortably (3.4(b)-Shelter from the elements).

All the pens had cemented flooring which was streaked with urine and littered with excess fecal accumulation (3.11(a)-Cleaning of primary enclosures). Each pen contained either a plastic bucket or metal dish for drinking water. In many cases the plastic buckets were chewed severely, in one case so much so that it is likely unable to hold water. In almost every kennel the bowls were completely empty and the dogs had no access to any water (3.10-Watering). One food bowl was also provided in each of the pens although these were also empty in the majority of the cages (3.9-Food).

Housing Type #3: The third structure housing dogs on the property was a kennel with a row of elevated cages across the middle on the two long sides of the building. There were 6 to 8 cages on each side. Each cage seen from outside the building was approximately 2 feet wide, 3 feet deep and 2 feet tall. Most cages housed two dogs although some housed three. The flooring in these cages was made of wire and each cage had an outdoor portion that connected to an indoor portion via a small metal dog door at the rear.

Housing Type #4: This structure appeared to be the backside of the building containing runs described previously as “Housing Type #1” and consisted of 4 or 5 elevated cages made completely of wire on all sides, including the floor. The cages were approximately 2 feet tall, 2 feet wide and 2 feet deep.

Housing Type #5: The fifth housing type at this kennel was another long stretch of outdoor pens that appeared to be the same type of structure as “Housing Type #2.” Investigators could not access these pens because they were in a fenced-off portion of the yard and lined the far side of the property. Dozens of dogs could be seen in the pens through the fencing.